Monday, June 29, 2009

Coming back tonight to Dodger Stadium, as a manager of a major league baseball team, was a pretty special feeling for me tonight. Was it the kind of game that I expected to see play out this evening? To answer that question, you've got to ask yourself, "Am I the kind of person that expects Ryan Spilborghs to break a scoreless tie in the fifth with a two-run home run?" Some might say, no.

But I would only answer that question by wondering aloud if I thought Randy Wolf would answer in the bottom of the fifth, by getting Ubaldo Jimenez to balk, and then following up with a game-tying single. I think I would be surprised to see Wolf tie the game with that single. But I also think I would have left Jimenez in the game for more pitching anyway, because I always like leaving in pitchers too long, except this time it would work out as Jimenez pitched a solid seven frames.

And finally, after four and a half hours, was I shocked to see Andre Ethier hit his walkoff home run in the 13th to win the game and keep the Dodgers seven games ahead of the Giants? And was I surprised that Michael Eaves started his post-game interview sarcastically ribbing Ethier for the Dodgers not winning the game earlier? And did I show any shreds of emotion after this gut-wrenching loss, which keeps the Dodgers from losing three games in a row yet again? I'd have to answer those questions all by saying no.

Are purple and black good colors for my complexion? Do the pinstripes help me look svelte?

"But I also think I would have left Jimenez in the game for more pitching anyway, because I always like leaving in pitchers too long, except this time it would work out as Jimenez pitched a solid seven frames."

Touché

"Are purple and black good colors for my complexion? Do the pinstripes help me look svelte?"They might Mr. Tracy, but purple and black are soooooo fall-winter 2007, which means you are demodé.

Seriously, for almost two hours, this game was "the game nobody wanted to win", but in spite of pitching mismanagement, we were treated with flawless bullpen performance and a spectacular ending: a beautiful swing that produced a walk off win.

But the question remains: will this pitching mismanagement bite the team back later in the week?

Funny you should mention complete games, Josh. As news of Timmah's latest CG shutout rippled through MLB, I was left thinking, "Hmm, sounds like the Giants are burning up another arm(s) (if you count Matty Cain) just like they did to J. Schmidt."

The Gnats better hope yoga is the answer for Timmah, or he'll land on the DL sometime this year or early next. You heard it here first.